Abstract 6713: Myc-regulated miR17, 20a modulate RANK expression in osteosarcoma
Authors: Bikesh Kumar Nirala, Lyazat Kurenbekova, Tajhal Patel, Ryan Lane Shuck, Atreyi Dasgupta, Nino Carlo Rainusso, Jason T. Yustein
Journal: Cancer Research (2023)

Abstract Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents. Approximately 25-30% of these tumors carry amplification of chromosome 8q24, which harbors the oncogene c-Myc, and correlates with a poor prognosis in patients with OS. To understand the mechanisms that underlie the ability of Myc to alter both the tumor and its surrounding tumor immune microenvironment (TiME), we generated and molecularly characterized an osteoblast-specific Cre-Lox-Stop-Lox;(LSL)-c-MycT58A;p53f/+ knockin genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM). Phenotypically, the Myc knockin-GEMM had rapid tumor development with a high incidence of metastasis. Myc-dependent gene signature in our murine model demonstrated significant homology to the human Myc-amplified OS.Interestingly, we noticed a significant reduction in the osteoclast (OCL) cell population in the Myc knockin OS tumor compared to the p53-driven. We found the expression of RANK was significantly downregulated in the Myc knockin tumor compared to the Non-knockin p53 heterozygous tumors. The RANK/RANKL pathway is vital in OCL maturation and bone modeling/remodeling. To understand the involvement of Myc in RANK regulation, we used murine-derived OS cell lines and transiently knocked down of Myc expression using siRNA. We observed a significant upregulation in RANK expression after Myc knockdown. To decipher the molecular mechanism behind the Myc-dependent regulation of RANK expression in OS, we looked into the Myc-mediated microRNAs. Myc regulates the expression of several microRNAs, including the polycistronic miR-17-92 cluster. The expression of miR17-5p and Mir20a-5p was significantly higher in the GEMM tumor tissue samples isolated from the Myc knockin compared to the p53-driven. Further, we validated the Myc-dependent regulation of miR-17-5p/20a-5p expression using transient knockdown of Myc in mouse Myc knockin-derived cell lines. To examine the role of miR17-5p/20a-5p on the RANK regulation, we performed both gain and loss-of-function studies using microRNA-17/20a mimics and inhibitors. After the treatment with miR-17-5p/20a-5p inhibitors, the expression of RANK was significantly upregulated whereas in the case of miR17/20a mimics reversed these effects and led to a downregulation of RANK expression. We established that miR-17-5p/20a-5p is causally responsible for at least part of the mechanism by which Myc regulates the RANK expression in OS.We concluded that the Myc-regulated miR17/20a modulates the RANK expression that is involved in the OCL cell population regulation and function in the OS. Citation Format: Bikesh Kumar Nirala, Lyazat Kurenbekova, Tajhal Patel, Ryan Lane Shuck, Atreyi Dasgupta, Nino Carlo Rainusso, Jason T. Yustein. Myc-regulated miR17, 20a modulate RANK expression in osteosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6713.